TROY, Alabama -- Tuscaloosa Academy ended its season the same way it began – with a victory over Lee-Scott Academy.

The second time around, however, didn’t go quite as easy for the Knights, who found themselves in a Friday afternoon dogfight with the Warriors for the AISA Class AAA championship at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy.

Lee Scott's Jeremy Joseph’s touchdown with 2:49 to play cut the TA lead to 27-26, but Kyle Andrews busted through the line and blocked the extra point to salvage the 1-point lead.

After going three-and-out, Lee-Scott had one last opportunity with 1:33 to go, but J.D. Diaz’s interception sealed Tuscaloosa Academy’s first AISA championship.

The Knights (13-0) had defeated Lee-Scott 34-0 in the season opener on Aug. 24, but TA head coach Robert Johnson knew the Warriors had vastly improved since then.

“We knew this was going to happen,” Johnson said. “We knew how good Lee-Scott was and how good the coaches were. We told the guys we just want a one-point win, however we can do it. We didn’t even get the lead until the fourth quarter, but these guys kept believing and I’m so proud of them.

"I just want to thank my wife and family for all they’ve done for this team and all these boys.”

Jaevon Walton led the Knights with 18 carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass and scampered 70 yards and led the defense with 10 tackles and a sack. Quarterback Jonathan Plott competed 5-of-8 passes for 139 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

When the season began, Tuscaloosa Academy wasn’t even ranked in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Top 10 poll, but that never mattered to Johnson and his team, who finished the season undefeated.

“I could care less about rankings,” Johnson said. “I care about championships.”

Joseph, Lee-Scott's quarterback, went 11-for-21 for 153 yards and carried 15 times for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas DeGrange carried eight times for 61 yards and a touchdown, while Nick Buskill led the defense with 14 tackles.